US and Russia join forces for Syrian peace summit

Give peace a chance: John Kerry speaks to Sergei Lavrov during their joint press conference in Moscow

AFP: Kirill Kudryavtsev

US secretary of state John Kerry and Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov have announced plans to try to broker an international conference on ending Syria's civil war.

The pair told a news conference they would push for summit to bring together the Syrian government and the opposition within a matter of weeks.

"The alternative [to a negotiated solution] is that there is even more violence," Mr Kerry said.

"The alternative is that Syria heads closer to an abyss, if not over the abyss, and into chaos. The alternative is that the humanitarian crisis will grow. The alternative is that there may be even a break up of Syria."

The announcement followed talks between Mr Kerry and Russian president Vladimir Putin that appeared to show little progress on gaining Russia's help in ending Syria's civil war.

The alternative (to a negotiated solution) is that there is even more violence. The alternative is that Syria heads closer to an abyss, if not over the abyss and into chaos. The alternative is that there may be even a break up of Syria.

John Kerry

The Russian president kept Mr Kerry waiting three hours before their meeting.

The US and Russia have clashed over the Kremlin's continued support for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's regime, and Moscow has vetoed attempts to impose sanctions on Syria at the UN Security Council.

But referring to Mr Assad, Mr Lavrov said Moscow was not concerned by the fate of particular individuals.

"The task now is to convince the government and all the opposition groups ... to sit at the negotiating table," he said.

Mr Kerry said the conference should be held "as soon as is practical - possibly and hopefully by the end of the month". Neither man said where it might take place.

Although the United States has said Mr Assad should not be part of a transitional government in Syria, Mr Kerry said the decision on who would take part should be left to the Syrians.

Mr Lavrov said the aim would be "to persuade the government and the opposition together ... to fully implement the Geneva communique" on creating a transitional government.

Meanwhile UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon called for the immediate release of four UN military observers seized by Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights.

Mr Moon condemned the detention of four Filipino observers on the ceasefire line on the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in 1967.

A rebel group called the Yarmouk Martytrs' Brigade said it had detained them for their own safety, and it would release them as soon as possible.

It is the second time this year the group has detained UN observers, amidst heavy fighting between it and Syrian government troops.

A photo of the four, apparently unharmed and wearing their blue UN flak jackets, was posted on Facebook.

Internet down

In another development, search engine Google has confirmed internet access has been completely cut off in Syria.

Google says mobile phones and landlines may not be working properly either.